Fire, Water, Woman, are Man's Ruin; <br />Says wise Professor Vander Bruin. <br />By Flames a House I hir'd was lost <br />Last Year: and I must pay the Cost. <br />This Spring the Rains o'erflow'd my Ground: <br />And my best Flanders Mare was drown'd. <br />A Slave I am to Clara's Eyes: <br />The Gipsey knows her Pow'r, and flies. <br />Fire, Water, Woman, are My Ruin: <br />And great Thy Wisdom, Vander Bruin.<br /><br />Matthew Prior<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-dutch-proverb/
